Right judgement at the right time

All of us have to take judgements, one way or the other, every moment of our life. Some judgements have limited or no impact on our lives. But, a few judgments can even change the course of our life for good or bad. In fact, some wrongful judgements can have damning implications.

For instance, choice of education, job, life-partner has immense ramifications while those pertaining to purchases, places to visit, among others will only impact the economic balancing act. It’s difficult to take correct judgements always. But, a higher percentage of right judgements, particularly those taken at the appropriate time, delivers a higher success rate. It has been noticed that men and women who make sound judgement also tend to become good leaders.

Sadly, many people hesitate to make a judgement for fear of the consequences or because of a vacillating mind. But, judgement, per se is no solution in itself as Theodore Roosevelt pointed out “In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing”.

Especially, when you are in a leadership position, procrastination and prevarication can prove dear. The Congress party sat over the issue of the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. It swung from one end of the pendulum to the other. Ultimately when it took the call it burnt its fingers everywhere. Judgement delayed is judgement destroyed.

Judgement is only a beginning of something. Quite often, people tend to relax after a judgement is made. But, the actual work should begin immediately thereafter. Making a wrong judgement is understandable. But sticking to it even after learning that it is wrong is unpardonable.

Such tendencies stem from egoism and over-confidence. If a judgement is wrong, analyse it. Search for the reasons and make suitable amends. One has often heard of ‘once bitten, twice shy.’ Judgement, for instance, can go wrong due to faulty or incomplete information. They can also go wrong due to the influence of external factors. Judge your own judgment. This time, you may probably prove to be right.

People suffer from two types of complexes. They either base their judgments from other’s opinion or adamantly refuse to heed a wise advice. Both are wrong. Allow the wind to blow from all sides by being open to all ideas and intrusive advice too. Eventually, they should serve the process of your judgement and not the judgement, as such.

People suffer from selective exposure, selective perception and even selective retention. This limitation restricts the thought-flow. Interaction with others before you judge will help you to come out of the selective syndrome. Judgement can often go wrong if taken in a stressful situation.

But stress is not only unavoidable but many a time judgements have to be taken during a stressful crisis. Avoid the stress if not free from it, at least for a moment. American preacher and author, Robert H Schuller puts it, “Never make a negative decision in the low time.

Never make your most important decisions when you are in your worst moods. Wait. Be patient. The storm will pass. The spring will come”. But, some take correct judgements only in stress. Perhaps, their mind works more effectively when under stress. But, they are rare. You are the best judge of yourself. Let the stress not be allowed to permeate into your decision-making process.

Howsoever good or bad the judgement may be, it is the circumstances that make it right or wrong. N T Rama Rao and Chiranjeevi, both popular actors decided to plunge into politics. But, the result was not the same. Precisely, a judgement made in tune with the circumstances yield right dividends.

NT Rama Rao took the decision when people were desperately looking for an alternative to people in power. That was not the situation in regard to Chiranjeevi. Perseverance and spontaneity are critical in judgement making. When Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated, the news came to the All India Radio newsroom. The information was still incomplete.

It was not immediately known as to who actually had committed the gruesome act. It was a period of unprecedented communal carnage. The news in-charge decided not to broadcast it immediately to avoid rumour-mongering and the violent fallouts. He waited for a moment and the news thus read, Mahatma Gandhi assassinated by Nathuram Godse.

People around you influence your judgments. Analyse how these people faired in their own judgments. Based on such a reality check, draft new people for consultation for your judgements and work accordingly.

Factors that can help in making a judgement are often conspicuous thus making it a murky process. Certain facts are overt. But many aspects need to be unraveled. Do a thorough probe. Approach the problem from all possible angles. Do a cost-benefit analysis of various options and assess your own strengths and weaknesses.

Logic and common sense will help you to steer through the information. This prelude will result in a good judgement or at least something that you will not regret later. Regret is even more painful than the pain of a bad judgement.

Few steps that lead you to right judgment: Frame the issue at hand. Collect facts from varied sources. Process the information. Evolve all possible options. Weigh the options relatively. Make a judgement.

Ensure it happens. Evaluate the efficacy of the judgement. Draw proper lessons to help you in the next moment. A judgment not well executed is a failed judgment, however, smart the strategy is and, however, flawless it might be.